Aadesh Shrivastava, sometimes called Aadarsh Shrivastava, is an Indian playback singer and music composer. Born in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, Srivastava began his musical journey at a very early age.  He learnt to play the drums while completing his education. Soon, he shifted to Bombay and met composers Sapan-Jagmohan. Slowly, he made his way into the industry and began the playing drums for famed and renowned music directors including Shankar Jaikishan and Salil Chowdhury. During his initial years in Bombay, Srivastava assisted Laxmikant-Pyarelal for almost a decade before he got his first break with the film, Kanyadaan (1993). The film however did not get released, despite its soundtrack gaining popularity.

He then made his mark in the film Aao Pyaar Karen (1994) with the song “Haathon mein aa gaya jo kal.” This garnered him much mass appeal and he became a popular appeal. Yet another hit song, “Kya ada kya jalwe tere Paro” in Shastra (1996) established him in the Hindi film industry. A couple of years later, his music in Angaarey (1998) also became a hit. Shrivastava was also a singer of numerous songs and delivered plenty of hits.

 He won accolades for his work in Kunwara (2000) and Shikari (2000). There was no stopping him as his successful streak carried on even to the following years, with super hits like Bas Itna Sa Khwaab Hai (2001), Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham (2001), Baghban (2003), and Baabul (2006), amongst other films. He also recently worked on Welcome Back (2015), a sequel to the hit film Welcome (2007).

In 2005, he was a judge on the talent hunt show Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Challenge and again in the Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Challenge of 2009. In 2010, his song “Mora Piya” from Raajneeti (2010) became a chartbuster.

Shrivastava has also collaborated with iconic figures all over the world such as Akon, Julia Fordham, Norah Jones, Shakira and Wyclef Jean, making him an internationally recognised artist. He died on 5 September 2015 after a battle with cancer, just one day after he turned 51.